ABSTRACT
Investigation of the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child in hospital is a challenge that requires the combined skills of paediatric and forensic pathology. The death may be due either to the condition for which the patient was being treated or to some other unrecognized condition. Sometimes death is due to a complication of treatment or failure of a medical device. Occasionally, sudden death is due to an error by professional staff. Rarely, death is due to the deliberate act of a carer.
